The world didn't give warnings anymore.
It just pushed you.
And you either moved… or you died.
"Three!"
Meera jumped first.
Arjun didn't think.
He couldn't, His body moved before his mind could catch up.
He leaped through the broken window.
For a split second, everything went silent,
No screams, No footsteps, No pounding on the door behind them.
Just air.
Cold.
Empty.
Endless.
Then—
Impact.
Arjun hit the ground hard, rolling across the rough surface as pain shot through his shoulder. His breath escaped in a violent gasp, lungs burning as if the air had been knocked out of existence.
For a moment, he couldn't move.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't even breathe properly.
Then reality snapped back.
"Get up!" Meera's voice cut through the haze.
Sharp.
Urgent.
Alive.
Arjun forced himself to move, groaning as he pushed himself onto his knees. His vision blurred, then cleared just enough to see her already standing—already scanning their surroundings.
"How… how are you—" he started.
"No time," she snapped. "Move!"
The street was worse up close.
From above, it had looked chaotic.
From here—
It was a nightmare.
Cars were abandoned at odd angles, some still with doors hanging open. A bike lay crushed beneath a small van. Blood streaked across the pavement in long, dark lines that led nowhere—and everywhere.
And the bodies—
Arjun looked away.
Too many, Some still.
Some not.
A sound cut through the air.
Low.
Wet.
Close.
Meera froze.
Then slowly turned her head.
"Don't look directly," she whispered.
Of course, Arjun did.
A figure crouched near a body.
Its back faced them.
Shoulders twitching.
Head jerking slightly with each movement.
Then—
It stopped.
Slowly…
It lifted its head.
Arjun's stomach twisted.
Its face was smeared with blood.
Its mouth—
No.
He forced himself not to think about it.
The thing tilted its head.
Listening.
Not random.
Focused.
Then—
It stood.
Too quickly, Too smoothly.
And turned toward them.
"Run," Meera said.
Not loud.
Not panicked.
Certain.
They ran.
Arjun's legs screamed in protest, pain shooting through his side with every step, but he didn't stop. He couldn't.
Behind them—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Too fast.
Not just one.
More.
"They're following us!" Arjun shouted.
"Don't turn back!" Meera replied.
"I'm not—!"
"Then don't talk!"
They cut through a narrow alley.
Dark.
Cramped.
The smell hit instantly—rotting, stale, suffocating.
Arjun nearly gagged but forced himself forward.
A metal trash bin lay overturned in their path.
Meera jumped over it.
Arjun stumbled—
Caught himself—
Kept going.
The sounds behind them grew louder.
Closer.
They weren't losing them.
They were—
Gaining.
"Left!" Meera shouted.
They turned sharply.
Another alley.
Wider this time.
But not empty.
Three figures stood ahead.
Still.
Blocking the path.
Arjun skidded to a halt.
"Now what?!" he said, panic rising.
Meera didn't answer.
She moved forward.
"What are you doing?!" Arjun hissed.
"Watch."
The figures didn't move.
Not yet.
They stood there, heads slightly lowered, as if… waiting.
Meera picked up a small piece of debris from the ground.
Without hesitation—
She threw it.
Hard.
Against a wall to their right.
Clang!
The sound echoed sharply.
Instantly—
All three heads snapped toward it.
At the same time.
In the same direction.
Arjun felt his chest tighten.
"That's not normal…" he whispered.
"Move," Meera said.
They slipped past.
Quiet.
Fast.
Every step controlled.
None of the figures looked at them.
Not once.
Only when they turned the next corner did Meera finally slow down.
Arjun leaned against the wall, gasping for air.
"What… what was that?" he managed.
"They respond to sound," she said.
"I know that—but that wasn't—"
"They're learning," she interrupted.
The words hit harder than anything else.
Learning.
Arjun shook his head. "No… no, that's not possible. They're—"
"What?" Meera cut in. "Dead?"
He didn't answer.
Because he didn't know anymore.
A distant scream echoed.
Then another.
Closer.
Meera pushed off the wall.
"We're not safe here."
"Where are we going?" Arjun asked.
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"Up."
"Up?" Arjun frowned.
"Higher ground. Less access. Better visibility."
Arjun glanced around.
Everything felt exposed.
Every shadow felt alive.
But she was already moving again.
He followed.
Because at this point—
Following her was the only reason he was still alive.
They reached another building.
The door was half open.
Dark inside.
Silent.
Meera stopped at the entrance.
Listened.
Then stepped in.
Arjun followed.
Inside—
It was worse.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Like the building itself was holding its breath.
They moved toward the staircase.
Step by step.
Careful.
Slow.
Then—
A sound.
Above them
A footstep.
Both froze.
Another step.
Dragging.
Meera slowly looked up.
Her grip tightened on the metal pipe.
Arjun whispered—
"We're not alone."
Meera didn't reply.
She didn't need to.
Because whatever was upstairs…
Had already started moving toward them.